The Increase in Cocaine Use Among Young People in Norway: An Alarming Trend

– I feel that there has been a huge increase in the number of young people who take cocaine at parties, says the 23-year-old NRK has spoken to.

On Tuesday evening, he participates in NRK Debatten on NRK 1 at 21.20.

In February, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) presented figures on Norwegian drug use. The report showed that the vast majority of young people do not use drugs at all.

In the annual survey for 2022, 4.7 percent of respondents between the ages of 16 and 30 answered that they have used cocaine in the past year.

In comparison, only 2.2 per cent answered that they had done the same in 2020.

Marit Edland-Gryt from FHI clarifies that this, although there is talk of a doubling in the number reporting use, is a small part of the population.

– Lose the impression that it is illegal

According to the 23-year-old NRK has chosen to call “Martin”, according to his own wish for anonymity and consideration for his family, it is far from abnormal for the white powder to be placed on the table both before and during a party.

– You gradually lose the impression that it is illegal. The chance of the police catching you seems to be minimal and it has become so common that nobody cares, he says.

Sees a trend both in nightlife and private life

Ever since the 23-year-old was 15 years old, he has worked in the nightlife industry. The man from Eastern Norway has held almost every job you can find in the restaurant and nightlife industry.

On Tuesday, he appears on the Debate on NRK, where the topic is increasing cocaine use among young people, to talk about his experiences.

Although both he and his gang of friends have jobs they go to on a daily basis, they often party from Wednesday to Sunday each week. He claims to see an increasing trend both at work and privately.

– There are clearly more people using it now than before. We usually go out to eat first. Some start sniffing even then. I myself like to start when we start drinking.

– Ridiculously easy to get hold of

Although only 4.7 of those questioned report having used cocaine in the past six months, “Martin” believes far more people have come across the illegal “cola”.

– It’s ridiculously easy to get hold of. The same if I’m at a party in Røros or in the center of Oslo, people stand on the toilet sniffing.

The 23-year-old believes that cocaine use has become part of the Norwegian party culture. He also believes that what he calls the police’s lack of intervention leads to more people thinking it’s perfectly fine “to take a break here and there.”

– Do you want to continue using cocaine in the future?

The 23-year-old says he has no plans to stop using cocaine in connection with parties in the future.

The police are worried

Rune Swahn, head of the Oslo police’s preventive unit, does not agree.

– We work regularly to prevent drug use among young people and young adults, he says.

Swahn says that they work on the internet to uncover sales and with a presence where they know cocaine is used and sold, among other things, among young people.

Although he talks about a concern in the police about the increase, he also points out that this is about a relatively small part of the population.

– Many people think that “everyone uses cocaine at parties”. This is not true. The fact that more people think this is what we see leads to a normalization idea and a reason why more people choose to try.

Marit Edland-Gryt is a sociologist in the department for drugs and tobacco at FHI. She supports the police that not everyone uses cocaine at parties.

Although she clarifies that 4.7 per cent is a low figure, she is afraid that it is a large dark figure.

Thomas Clausen is a professor in the Center for Drug and Addiction Research at UiO.

– What happens to the body when you take cocaine?

– You feel refreshed, happy, forget to eat, don’t get tired. The kind of effects. You also get a strong happiness or intoxication experience.

– After a lot of long-term use, some people will get psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression, but also psychosis. It is dangerous to use it, especially in large quantities over time, says Clausen.